English Department

Why Study English at Fisher?

An English major prepares you for success in a wide variety of fields including teaching, publishing, business, corporate management, marketing and more. Graduates who can read, write, and speak fluently are in high demand, perhaps more than ever before.

The English Major at Fisher

English majors choose one of two concentrations: literature or writing. Students may also elect to make internships and honors projects a central element of their major.

Literature Concentration

The literature concentration, focusing on English and American literary studies, helps students acquire a lifelong love of reading and an appreciation of the importance of narrative in everyday life and human history. Literature majors develop:

• the ability to read and write critically
• a knowledge of central literary works
• an awareness of critical theory and cultural context
• a sense of the connection between literature, everyday life, and human history

Writing Concentration

The writing concentration is designed to transform students into professional writers. Courses are taught by full-time faculty and by a dedicated staff of published writers with firsthand knowledge of the business of writing. Writing majors develop:

• an understanding of rhetoric
• an effective writing process
• the ability to write for a variety of contexts
• the ability to write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction
• a working knowledge of technical and business writing